ALL OF COLLEGE basketball will be focused on a New York courtroom starting Monday, as the government argues its case in the biggest bribery and corruption scandal in the sport’s history.

One year ago, FBI agents arrested 10 men after a clandestine two-year investigation. Three of the eight remaining defendants – Adidas executive James Gatto, Adidas consultant Merl Code and Christian Dawkins, a former AAU director and runner for a well-known NBA agent – are the first to be tried, on charges that they conspired to pay high school prospects and/or their families to sign with Adidas-sponsored schools Kansas, Louisville, Miami and North Carolina State.

James Gatto: Gatto, the director of global sports marketing for basketball at Adidas, is specifically accused of approving sham invoices to conceal illicit payments to players’ families. The New York native has worked at Adidas since 1993; he was placed on leave shortly after his arrest. His father, Jim Gatto, was a longtime high school basketball coach in New York. Gatto is charged with six felony counts related to attempt and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is the only one of the three defendants accused of involvement in a scheme involving Kansas recruits.

Kansas: The government alleges that between October 2016 and November 2017, Gatto conspired with Adidas consultant T.J. Gassnola and others to funnel at least $90,000 to Kansas prospect Billy Preston’s mother. The complaint says money was funneled through an AAU team controlled by Gassnola and through sham invoices approved by Gatto.

The government says Gassnola facilitated the cash payments to Preston’s mother, Nicole Player, including a $30,000 payment delivered in a New York hotel room on Oct. 31, 2016, and $20,000 paid in a Las Vegas hotel room on Jan. 19, 2017.

Gatto, Gassnola and others are also accused of conspiring to make cash payments to the guardian of Kansas prospect Silvio De Sousa to help him get “out from under” a deal to sign with a school sponsored by a different sneaker company. On Sept. 11, 2017, according to the complaint, Gassnola told Gatto during a telephone conversation that he would need to make “another $20,000 payment” to De Sousa’s guardian, Fenny Falmagne. Falmagne has denied receiving any money.

In July, Kansas officials acknowledged that the university had received two federal subpoenas to produce materials and have school officials testify to a grand jury.

Silvio De Sousa: A native of Angola, De Sousa moved to the U.S. before his freshman year of high school. He transferred to IMG Academy in Florida in the summer of 2016, then reclassified and graduated early to join the Jayhawks in late December 2017. De Sousa, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged 8.8 minutes in 20 games at Kansas last season. He scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds in 10 minutes in the national semifinal loss to Villanova.

Billy Preston: Preston, ranked 18th overall and fourth among power forwards in the 2017 ESPN Top 100, did not play in a game for the Jayhawks last season because of eligibility concerns. He was held out of 17 games while the university looked into the “financial picture” of a vehicle he wrecked on campus. He turned pro on Jan. 20 and signed a contract with BC Igokea of Bosnia. Preston wasn’t selected in June’s NBA draft but signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I’m Responsible Only For What I Say, Not What You Understand.” – John Wayne

“Code, Dawkins and Gatto are each charged with five felony counts related to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud; Gatto faces a sixth felony related to a pay-for-play scheme involving Kansas recruits.”

Not great. Just have to hope nothing comes back to the school or Self.

“Code, Dawkins and Gatto are each charged with five felony counts related to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud; Gatto faces a sixth felony related to a pay-for-play scheme involving Kansas recruits.”

Not great. Just have to hope nothing comes back to the school or Self.

The 6th charge definitely has my interest. I remain confident Self wouldn’t be preparing for the season if there was doubt

The original indictment listed KU as one of the victims although I seriously doubt KU sees itself this way. Recruiting is like the proverbial “making sausages,” you might like the final product but you really don’t want to see how it is done. All programs are aware that top recruits might not be without baggage but I am sure they see it as the cost of doing business and there is always the chance something negative might come out. KU did not play Preston at all and the NCAA cleared Silvio so KU has a pretty strong and defensible case. I will guess that testimony by KU personnel would not help the prosecution case so I seriously doubt anyone from KU will testify and KU will be mentioned only as a potential victim.

If you want loyalty get a dog; better yet, get two just in case one turns on you.

The original indictment listed KU as one of the victims although I seriously doubt KU sees itself this way. Recruiting is like the proverbial “making sausages,” you might like the final product but you really don’t want to see how it is done. All programs are aware that top recruits might not be without baggage but I am sure they see it as the cost of doing business and there is always the chance something negative might come out. KU did not play Preston at all and the NCAA cleared Silvio so KU has a pretty strong and defensible case. I will guess that testimony by KU personnel would not help the prosecution case so I seriously doubt anyone from KU will testify and KU will be mentioned only as a potential victim.

Per Dan Wetzel who is covering the trial for Yahoo. During opening remarks Gatto’s attorney said that Oregon offered “an astronomical” amount of money to recruit Brian Bowen. The 100,000$ deal to attend Louisville was to “level the playing field”

Also Under Armor paid $20,000 to De Sousa to sign with Maryland and Arizona offered $150,000 for Nassir Little.

His main goal is to make all of college basketball look corrupt not just Adidas…

Per Dan Wetzel who is covering the trial for Yahoo. During opening remarks Gatto’s attorney said that Oregon offered “an astronomical” amount of money to recruit Brian Bowen. The 100,000$ deal to attend Louisville was to “level the playing field”

Also Under Armor paid $20,000 to De Sousa to sign with Maryland and Arizona offered $150,000 for Nassir Little.

His main goal is to make all of college basketball look corrupt not just Adidas…

Well IF Under Armor paid 20,000 to De-Sousa , then that automatically takes Silvio’s amateur status away right off the bat doesn’t it? - -I don’t know - -seems like it would , which in the end run the NCAA would then make us forfeit any games that Silvio played in for us right? - - -ROCKCHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Per Dan Wetzel who is covering the trial for Yahoo. During opening remarks Gatto’s attorney said that Oregon offered “an astronomical” amount of money to recruit Brian Bowen. The 100,000$ deal to attend Louisville was to “level the playing field”

Also Under Armor paid $20,000 to De Sousa to sign with Maryland and Arizona offered $150,000 for Nassir Little.

His main goal is to make all of college basketball look corrupt not just Adidas…

Well IF Under Armor paid 20,000 to De-Sousa , then that automatically takes Silvio’s amateur status away right off the bat doesn’t it? - -I don’t know - -seems like it would , which in the end run the NCAA would then make us forfeit any games that Silvio played in for us right? - - -ROCKCHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

They didn’t pay De Sousa, they alledegly paid his guardian. And the FBI has told the NCAA to take a backseat until the trials go through. Silvio’s status can’t be touched

As I understand it, supposedly Under Armour paid SDS’s guardian. The guardian had to reimburse UA when SDS decided to commit to Kansas and the guardian had to reimburse UA. Allegedly, that’s where Adidas stepped up and either reimbursed UA or the guardian for his payment back to UA. IMO.

If there is a paper trail that gets handed off to the NCAA once this whole trial is over, then that’s where Silvio’s eligibility could get looked at.

True , but come on , I know your not really saying you believe that are you? With so many dirty agents - -and there are PLENTY of Guardians the same way, you can’t really believe that he REALLY didn’t receive that money do you? I hope turns out that he DIDN’T receive any money , but I’m not holding my breathe. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

If Smith Sr was employed by Adidas as an AAU coach just like Bagley Jr @ Duke who cares? Obvious loop hole but everybody did it . UNC paid Tyler Hansbros mother $200,000 for a bogus job while she gave blowjobs on a University private plane .
12:53 PM - Oct 2, 2018

I have no idea what actually happened. I’m waiting to see what happens here while hoping KU is not in the cross hairs, that everything KU has said publicly is in fact the truth.

All I know is the timeline for how Silvio got to Kansas was definitely not in the normal flow of how KU gets recruits in this day and age. All of us that followed that situation know things happened so fast we had no idea he was even on campus, committed and caused a stir for Maryland fans.

Well, not looking good. So Gotto’s attorney asked and was told that yes Gotto paid somebody at the very least from De-Sousa’s camp 20,000 dollars to come to KU. Gotto this was done AFTER DeSousa or some body in De-Sousa camp received 20,000 from Under Armor - - for Silvio to play for Maryland. - -So Somewhere in the De-Sousa camp they received 40,000. 20.000 from Adidas - -20,00 from under Armor.

People on some other sites saying not good - -some talking about having to vacate our final four. - Myself I think Silvio is done. - Like someone else mentioned they don’t see how Coach Self could possibly play Silvio now. - -Could very easily have to forfeit any games he played in - -he receiving money there goes your Amateur status quick - -ROCK CHALK AL DAY LONG BABY

Thanks, @1JayhawkLifer. It will be interesting to find out if there is a paper trail to SDS guardian that may implicate Maryland and/or KU.

very well could implicate them both – One thing for sure is and I reckon you can’t blame him I would be the same way - -very obvious that ol Jimmy Gatt out to try and save as much of his bacon as possible

NOW he doesn’t give a dam. - -I have a feeling and I’m not necessarily taking huge - -but now I’m getting this feeling that because of the way things are looking up in the air and if you noticed - - De-Sousa and KU was one of the 1st things - -1st day - -just got this feeling that YES it just might have some influence - no matter what size portion - -but really feel that this just might be enough to push a couple of people the other way , quite possibly Hurt - - maybe even JRE - -you can take it to the bank GOOD OL ROY BOY and crew will be running this with wildfire - -things gonna get interesting/maybe ugly. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

Thanks @BShark ! Just found this site this year and have mainly been lurking, but appreciate any and all info regarding KU.

Your’re welcome @Gorilla72 . This whole court case just strikes me as a very bizarre use of FBI resources, taxpayer money and our court system. Have to agree with the defense lawyer, what the hell are we doing here? It isn’t illegal to break NCAA rules.

Did everyone see the most recent news?
Im sure you did. Fabulous, right?
Dammit, looks like we might have to vacate wins and or let Silvio go pro. Wonderful.
I just hope NONE of the coaches new anything about this.

We all know Jeff is a looney bin but he’s not wrong here either, at least so far.

Important to note on those Silvio De Sousa/Under Armour/Maryland allegations: there’s been no evidence or mentions of this happening except for claims by Jim Gatto, former Adidas exec who’s admitting paying players and attempting to paint everyone as doing it.

I agree. I have said for a long time that as long as the income is declared and the government gets its cut no laws are broken. Yes, lots of NCAA rules were broken but no crime committed by the mere act of giving and/or taking money. Now, if the money used for the payments was acquired by non legit means and taxes were not paid then that could be an issue;remember they got Al Capone for tax evasion and not for all the other crimes he committed.

If you want loyalty get a dog; better yet, get two just in case one turns on you.

The creation of fake documents certainly does not help any of their cases. They also have a responsibility to file 1099s for anyone they paid that is not a Corporation or a 501C(3) so that the government know that there is income to collect from the individuals.

It’s really funny, because if they didn’t hide any of this, I’m sure they don’t get caught and nothing is illegal.

But both parties (the parents and the coaches/Gatto) all committed tax fraud. I’m almost 100% certain. But only half of those people are getting charged…